Caterpillar has revised its now 103 page Commercial Diesel Engine Fluids Recommendation Bulletin SEBU6251 (now Rev. 17), last revised February 2013. This bulletin covers Caterpillar's most current recommendations and specifications for lubricants, fuels and cooling system fluids for use in Caterpillar commercial diesel engines.

American Refining Group and D-A Lubricant Company have reached an agreement in which ARG has agreed in principle to sell the Brad Penn® Lubricants brand to D-A. The companies also have reached a blending and packaging agreement in which ARG will continue to blend and package most of the Brad Penn® Lubricants at the Bradford, Pa. facility.

Afton Chemical had another solid quarterly performance, as sales for the third quarter of this year were $585.6 million, an improvement of 1.4% over sales for the same period last year of $577.6 million. Sales for the first nine months of this year were $1,777.2 million, an increase of 3.5% compared to sales in the first nine months of last year of $1,717.3 million.

ASTM has approved a new standard, D7922, Test Method for Determination of Glycol for In-Service Engine Oils by Gas Chromatography, to test for glycols in motor oil. The test method describes an analysis for ethylene glycol that looks for a single component buried in the complex matrix of engine oil. This method is more specifically geared toward engine coolants than any previous oil testing method.

Last week, the major integrated oil companies reported third quarter financial results which, for the most part, were positive. Shell, ExxonMobil and Chevron reported increased third quarter 2014 earnings compared to the same quarter a year ago while BP and Total reported reduced third quarter earnings. Refiner Phillips 66 reported a significant earnings increase.

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